There they were, in the back of a market. Lelo Vega, Marcus, and Klaus had been on their quest to find and eliminate the nearest Waltzer, and bring back the body for Eugene Gumble’s permission to recruit the Fighting Phils in order to proceed in their investigation regarding Walter Crawley’s son. They had managed to come across a Waltzer and a Marine guarding the gate on the outside of the market, and Klaus was able to negotiate with the marine to set up a mock arrest in order to lure the Waltzer (who seemed to be very fond of Lelo Vega, as he had given a hug when Lelo apologized for Klaus’s aggressiveness upon arrival) into the office of Old Tom, the head of the market it’s surroundings. It was a short scenario coming the outside, to the inside of the market, but now they were there. Lelo Vega, Marcus and Klaus witnessed the unpleasant sight of Old Tom. He was double fisted, wielding two hoagies that were dripping in mayonnaise, sloppily eating them as the three entered his office.
The office itself, was not actually your idea of a common office. It looked like they were in the middle of a boiler room that tried to present itself as an office with the least effort possible. As the smell of mayonnaise filled the room once the door behind them had shut, Klaus had given Old Tom the proposal for his Waltzer. “How much do you want for him?” asked a very frustrated Klaus. He had been having a bad day, and he wasn’t in the mood for shenanigans. Angering a giant such as he would have been a huge mistake, if he wasn’t already in handcuffs due to the mock arrest. The Waltzer, now terrified that he had walked right into what may have been the last trick that would have ever been played on him, started to stammer in fear upon hearing the news. Klaus offered 50 bucks for the Waltzer’s head, Old Tom refused. He wouldn't give up a guard of his to a group of people that he didn’t know for what he considered a low price. He had to have much more than that. Lelo Vega observed that this man would be one tough cookie. Lelo watched Klaus, who was now in front of the door of the office in order to block the prized Waltzer, negotiate with Old Tom on and on, until Old Tom made things interesting.
He started to threaten the Waltzer’s life in order to make Klaus raise up the price for the Waltzer’s head. It was a dirty strategy, but it was working. After Klaus’s last bid, which was was nearing 100 dollars, he grabbed a large blade and stabbed the trapped and helpless Waltzer in his thigh. Aside from his blood curdling screaming, he was bleeding profusely, and Klaus knew that Old Tom was serious. Lelo knew this too. Old Tom had nothing to lose or gain here, what did a Waltzer mean to him? Nothing. Not a single solitary thing. Klaus upped his price to 125, and still, Old Tom would not be swayed. This whole bidding war with Klaus and Old Tom didn't sit well with Lelo, not only had they been far from their primary mission, but they were in a room with a man and a marine that they didn't know, and despite their need to advance with the Waltzer dead, it seemed like they would not be leaving this place the way he, or both Klaus and Marcus would like to. The Waltzer already had a bloodied leg, It would be tough to walk out into the market, a public place with a frantic Waltzer with a leg dripping with crimson.
Klaus’s bidding was now up to 175. Klaus still refused. Klaus was starting to get impatient with Old Tom, whose hands were now clad in both mayo and blood, and Old Tom motioned the Marine to pull his gun out on Klaus to keep him away from Tom. Now things were really hairy... Klaus was in cuffs and at gunpoint, and Old Tom’s price seemed to be unreachable. Klaus kept 500 dollars in total. The money however, was not his but of another ally of theirs, Brother Patrick who was staying behind with Charles P. Twarld, the mayor of Milwaukee, but that’s another story. Bottomline, they couldn’t spend their amount completely, or else they’d be in trouble. Once Klaus reached the 200’s, Old Tom grabbed the Waltzer and put his head in a vice, and warned that three quick spins would leave them with a bloodied mess. This was a tense situation now. Lelo himself felt a bit nervous, to the point where he wanted to step in Klaus's behalf.
Lelo now wanted to reason with Old Tom, trying to get him to calm down for the sake of the conditions of their departure. “How about 225, and you can have all the hoagies you want?” Lelo hoped to strike a nerve here, as it seemed like hoagies were the only thing Tom seemed to care about. A smile soon crept on his face. Maybe this was it, perhaps now Lelo, Marcus and the giant at gunpoint could breathe a little more easier now.
Old Tom spoke, “Okay. You can have him.”
Everyone except Tom and the guard exchanged confused looks.
Klaus spoke, “You’ll let us leave with the Waltzer?”
Old Tom replied “Yep.”
“No shenanigans?” asked Lelo.
“None.” said Old Tom.
“Scout’s honor?” asked Marcus.
“Old Tom’s honor.” said Old Tom.
Klaus handed Old Tom the money and almost immediately Tom spun the vice’s handle about 3 times in one go and the Waltzer was now very dead and headless. “Damn him...” thought Lelo, who now realized that they had to leave this place with a headless, bloodied corpse in front of a bunch of people. After a short while they planned a strategy and Marcus and Lelo ran out to the market and started a fake fight while Klaus, who broke his handcuffs, had the Waltzer corpse on his shoulder and headed to the exit as fast as he could. It was a very disturbing and yet curious sight say the least. He tripped to his chagrin, and suddenly everyone was paying attention the large man with the bloody corpse in the market. The merchant of the store saw him. “Hey, what’s going on here?” he said as Lelo and Marcus were now by Klaus’s side. “Damn it, he’s got us! the only way is to lie!” thought Lelo. He looked the merchant in the eyes, and started to speak...
The office itself, was not actually your idea of a common office. It looked like they were in the middle of a boiler room that tried to present itself as an office with the least effort possible. As the smell of mayonnaise filled the room once the door behind them had shut, Klaus had given Old Tom the proposal for his Waltzer. “How much do you want for him?” asked a very frustrated Klaus. He had been having a bad day, and he wasn’t in the mood for shenanigans. Angering a giant such as he would have been a huge mistake, if he wasn’t already in handcuffs due to the mock arrest. The Waltzer, now terrified that he had walked right into what may have been the last trick that would have ever been played on him, started to stammer in fear upon hearing the news. Klaus offered 50 bucks for the Waltzer’s head, Old Tom refused. He wouldn't give up a guard of his to a group of people that he didn’t know for what he considered a low price. He had to have much more than that. Lelo Vega observed that this man would be one tough cookie. Lelo watched Klaus, who was now in front of the door of the office in order to block the prized Waltzer, negotiate with Old Tom on and on, until Old Tom made things interesting.
He started to threaten the Waltzer’s life in order to make Klaus raise up the price for the Waltzer’s head. It was a dirty strategy, but it was working. After Klaus’s last bid, which was was nearing 100 dollars, he grabbed a large blade and stabbed the trapped and helpless Waltzer in his thigh. Aside from his blood curdling screaming, he was bleeding profusely, and Klaus knew that Old Tom was serious. Lelo knew this too. Old Tom had nothing to lose or gain here, what did a Waltzer mean to him? Nothing. Not a single solitary thing. Klaus upped his price to 125, and still, Old Tom would not be swayed. This whole bidding war with Klaus and Old Tom didn't sit well with Lelo, not only had they been far from their primary mission, but they were in a room with a man and a marine that they didn't know, and despite their need to advance with the Waltzer dead, it seemed like they would not be leaving this place the way he, or both Klaus and Marcus would like to. The Waltzer already had a bloodied leg, It would be tough to walk out into the market, a public place with a frantic Waltzer with a leg dripping with crimson.
Klaus’s bidding was now up to 175. Klaus still refused. Klaus was starting to get impatient with Old Tom, whose hands were now clad in both mayo and blood, and Old Tom motioned the Marine to pull his gun out on Klaus to keep him away from Tom. Now things were really hairy... Klaus was in cuffs and at gunpoint, and Old Tom’s price seemed to be unreachable. Klaus kept 500 dollars in total. The money however, was not his but of another ally of theirs, Brother Patrick who was staying behind with Charles P. Twarld, the mayor of Milwaukee, but that’s another story. Bottomline, they couldn’t spend their amount completely, or else they’d be in trouble. Once Klaus reached the 200’s, Old Tom grabbed the Waltzer and put his head in a vice, and warned that three quick spins would leave them with a bloodied mess. This was a tense situation now. Lelo himself felt a bit nervous, to the point where he wanted to step in Klaus's behalf.
Lelo now wanted to reason with Old Tom, trying to get him to calm down for the sake of the conditions of their departure. “How about 225, and you can have all the hoagies you want?” Lelo hoped to strike a nerve here, as it seemed like hoagies were the only thing Tom seemed to care about. A smile soon crept on his face. Maybe this was it, perhaps now Lelo, Marcus and the giant at gunpoint could breathe a little more easier now.
Old Tom spoke, “Okay. You can have him.”
Everyone except Tom and the guard exchanged confused looks.
Klaus spoke, “You’ll let us leave with the Waltzer?”
Old Tom replied “Yep.”
“No shenanigans?” asked Lelo.
“None.” said Old Tom.
“Scout’s honor?” asked Marcus.
“Old Tom’s honor.” said Old Tom.
Klaus handed Old Tom the money and almost immediately Tom spun the vice’s handle about 3 times in one go and the Waltzer was now very dead and headless. “Damn him...” thought Lelo, who now realized that they had to leave this place with a headless, bloodied corpse in front of a bunch of people. After a short while they planned a strategy and Marcus and Lelo ran out to the market and started a fake fight while Klaus, who broke his handcuffs, had the Waltzer corpse on his shoulder and headed to the exit as fast as he could. It was a very disturbing and yet curious sight say the least. He tripped to his chagrin, and suddenly everyone was paying attention the large man with the bloody corpse in the market. The merchant of the store saw him. “Hey, what’s going on here?” he said as Lelo and Marcus were now by Klaus’s side. “Damn it, he’s got us! the only way is to lie!” thought Lelo. He looked the merchant in the eyes, and started to speak...